Within the Procurement Team the Trust has a Clinical Procurement
Specialist Nurse (Commodity Advisor) acting as the interface
between end users and the Commercial activities of the Trust.

Supplier Representatives Policy

The Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse contributes to the
protection of patients and staff by coordinating the activity of
supplier representatives in regard to product trials, together with
the purchase of equipment and consumables.

This role is clearly reflected in the Trust's Policy for
meeting with representatives.

Product Trials

In order to efficiently coordinate product trials and
promote the adoption of new ideas / products potential trials are
initiated by the completion of a Trial request Procedure.

This process looks at potential usages / spend / and areas
affected enabling the Trust to only trial products should they
offer savings, standardisation or an improvement in patient care
through innovation.

The Procurement Team have weekly meetings to identify
"Quick wins" which often include ideas from Trust Staff. This
provides a mechanism by which product trials can be expedited if
deemed to be of benefit with regard to cost efficiencies.

The Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse also advises on
a wide range of aspects of clinical products promoting
standardisation of appropriate products whilst contributing to both
National and Trust Procurement Savings Targets.

Clinical Innovation

Innovation is a key component of the Procurement Team's
activities. This is not just about maximising cost efficiencies,
but also to identify cost effective products that improve the
patient care experience and promote improved safety for staff and
patient alike.

The inclusion of the Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse
role within the Procurement Team means that the Procurement
Department is informed and up to date in regard to the current
clinical commodity market place.

The Countess Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse is
currently associated with the following external groups.

National Network of Clinical Procurement Specialists
(NNCPS)

This network consists of some 60 members of like minded Clinical
Procurement Specialists (including Scotland and Wales) and is an
ideal vehicle to gather an up to date topical knowledge of
marketplace activity, product efficacy and standardisation
opportunities. The network has E-mail discussion and a lively forum
on the well utilised NHS Networks website . The network meet 3
times per year and regularly have key note speakers from high
profile organisations such as the Dept of Health, MHRA, NPSA, NICE
and SMTL. The Countess Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse is
currently Co-Chair of the NNCPS Network.

NHS Supply Chain Task Forces

The Trust's Clinical Procurement Specialist Nurse
regularly contributes in a clinical advisory capacity with product
evaluation groups with this major NHS supplier.